After returning home, Song Laowu went straight into Song Dashan and Yu Zhaodi’s room.
“Dad, Mom, I need to tell you something.
In three days, I’m getting married into another family.”
Without waiting for any reaction, he turned and left.
Yu Zhaodi, who had just been about to get into bed, froze. “What did you just say?”
Song Dashan frowned, climbed off the bed, and told Yu Zhaodi to call everyone out.
Soon, everyone had gathered—everyone except Song Laowu and Song Laoqi, who shared a room.
Song Laoqi still looked utterly stunned. “Fifth Brother, you’re really marrying into another family? In three days?”
Song Laowu looked impatient. “How many times do I have to say it? Yes. It’s true. Let’s go—Dad and Mom have called several times already.”
When the two of them came out, the main hall was full. Song Dashan sat at the head, the others wrapped in outer clothes on both sides. The children were asleep in the room.
Seeing the setup, Song Laowu felt like he was facing a formal interrogation. He pulled up a stool and sat by the doorway, leaning back against the door.
Song Laoqi sat beside him, curiosity burning in his eyes. Who exactly was the girl his Fifth Brother liked? No one in the production team had mentioned any family looking for a live-in son-in-law. So where was he planning to marry into in three days?
Everyone else looked confused. What had happened? Why call everyone out instead of sleeping?
Song Dashan glared at his son. “Laowu, what did you mean by what you said earlier?”
No one had taken him seriously before. But now that he’d set a specific date, it didn’t sound like a joke anymore.
“It means that in three days, I’ll be marrying into someone else’s family.”
As soon as he said it, Third Sister-in-law shot him a look of disbelief. “What? Three days? Marry into another family?”
“Yes, Third Sister-in-law.
Oh—though you probably don’t want this to succeed.
I just remembered—you made a bet with Laoqi, didn’t you?
In three days, I’ll be marrying in.”
Hearing him repeat “marrying in” over and over, Yu Zhaodi’s hands trembled with anger. If this unfilial son really became a live-in son-in-law, how would Laoqi find a wife in the future?
Song Laoqi looked at everyone’s dark expressions and tried to persuade them. “If Fifth Brother wants to marry in, just let him.
The date’s already set—what’s left to argue about?
It’s not like no one in our family has done it before. Didn’t Uncle marry in too?
Even the older generation had someone marry in—why can’t someone from our generation do the same?”
Song Dashan shot him a glare. “That’s different! Who said your uncle married in? Your uncle married a wife!”
Song Laoqi muttered, “That’s not what everyone says…”
Song Laowu said calmly, “Dad, just think of me like Uncle then.
At least the one I’m marrying is better than his.
I’m marrying a young woman. Uncle married in to become someone’s stepfather.”
Song Dashan’s face darkened. “Watch your mouth! Is that how a junior speaks about an elder?”
“So the truth can’t be spoken now?
Anyway, I’m getting married in three days. Whether you agree or not, it’s happening.
You’d better not cause trouble on my wedding day.
Otherwise, none of the unmarried juniors in this family will get married in the future.
If Uncle could marry in, why can’t I?
I’m just following his example.”
With that, he stood up and went back to his room.
Song Dashan was so furious his nostrils flared, his chest rising and falling, teeth grinding. He forced out two words through clenched teeth:
“Let him.”
Then he turned and went back inside.
No one else dared say a word. Each returned to their rooms with their own thoughts.
Third Sister-in-law thought about the bet she’d made and fumed.
Fourth Sister-in-law secretly laughed behind her back. She both wanted Laowu to marry in—and didn’t.
That night, Yu Zhaodi tossed and turned under the covers, unable to sleep. Just thinking about how everyone would know tomorrow made her head ache with shame.
Song Dashan noticed her shifting around and snapped, “What are you doing? Got lice or something?”
Yu Zhaodi choked on his words. “I’m thinking about Laowu’s situation.
What are we going to do?
How am I supposed to face people tomorrow?”
Song Dashan was thoroughly irritated. “You can’t stop him anyway. Let him be.
When his life doesn’t go smoothly, he’ll realize we were doing this for his own good.
I don’t lack one son. He brought this on himself—let him suffer the consequences.
Tomorrow, spread the word that we no longer have this son.”
Yu Zhaodi opened her mouth but hesitated. She felt a little reluctant. If only he had been obedient…
Then she thought about everything he’d done these past few days and anger rose again.
“Fine. Let’s just pretend we don’t have this son. When he’s old, he’ll regret it. Regret not listening to us.
Let him regret it to death—that unfilial brat. Do whatever you want.”
With that, she pulled the blanket over her head and forced herself to sleep.
Early the next morning, after a restless night, Yu Zhaodi shot Song Laowu a nasty glare.
“Hurry up and get lost. Aren’t you marrying into another family?
Why are you still living here?
Get as far away as you can. From now on, I don’t have a son like you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be gone in three days.”
Seeing his indifferent attitude only made her angrier. She turned and went to the kitchen to serve breakfast.
While eating, Fourth Sister-in-law spoke up, “Third Sister-in-law, does your bet with Laoqi still count?
Everyone was a witness. You even guaranteed you wouldn’t go back on your word. So…”
Before she could finish, Third Sister-in-law shot her a vicious glare and said through clenched teeth, “Why are you talking so much?”
She had stayed quiet all morning, afraid people would remember the bet.
And yet Fourth Sister-in-law had deliberately brought it up.
As if she didn’t know exactly what kind of intentions she had.
Song Laoqi raised his head and looked at Third Sister-in-law. “You’re not going to back out, are you, Third Sister-in-law?
We all—”
“…We agreed on it at the time.”
Seeing everyone looking at her strangely, Third Brother’s wife was so angry her lungs hurt. Gritting her teeth, she snapped, “Who’s backing out?
“It’s just a month of housework. It’s not like I can’t handle it.”
Fourth Brother’s wife smiled. “I knew Third Sister-in-law always keeps her word.
“Then why not start tomorrow?
“From tomorrow on, we won’t rotate anymore. After you finish a full month, we’ll go back to taking turns.”
“You—”
Yu Zhaodi was already in a bad mood. Seeing Third Brother’s wife stirring up trouble, she cut in directly, “It’s settled then. Third Brother’s wife will start tomorrow.”
Although she had made a bet with her precious youngest son and didn’t want him to win, she also didn’t want him going out to work. And here was Third Brother’s wife, poking around and causing trouble.
Noticing Yu Zhaodi’s foul mood, Third Brother’s wife didn’t dare argue further, afraid she’d become the next target of her anger.
Instead, she turned her fire toward Song Lao Wu. “Lao Wu, you’ve been shouting about marrying into someone’s family every day. The wedding banquet’s in three days, and we still don’t even know which family the bride’s from?”
Everyone at the table was instantly curious.
Song Lao Qi had dragged his fifth brother aside the night before and questioned him for ages, yet hadn’t managed to get a single word out of him.
Song Lao Wu replied calmly, “Oh, you all know her. One of the educated youths who just arrived a few days ago…”
Before he could finish, Third Brother’s wife cut in sharply, “What? An educated youth?
“A city girl? She’d actually take a fancy to you?”
Everyone in the brigade knew the newly arrived educated youths.
The key point was—they were all from the city, each prettier than the last, and clearly from decent families. How could one of them possibly fancy lazy Song Lao Wu?
Yu Zhaodi’s mind went blank. Her son had made something of himself—an educated youth had chosen him?
…Wait. What exactly did the girl see in him?